Connected

Six years ago I made a new friend and it changed my life...my sweet Harley, who became more of an authentic representation of Jesus than anything I'd experienced thus far.  Our meeting was a product comparable to a cosmic alignment of planets and stars.  I was instructed by my college ministry leader to introduce myself to a new visitor.  My eyes widened as I faced the challenge.  There Harley was, sitting in a torn and re-patched army jacket and a hat...various facial piercings and a tattoo...and I was...intrigued.  Simply stating my name to a stranger was far outside my level of comfort, but I did what I was told...put on the mask of bravery and said hello...
And my world turned upside down.
Through Harley I encountered God with a paintbrush, Coldplay, and Shane Claiborne.  He taught me that God is least likely to be found sitting idle on a wooden pew, but rather curled under a bridge with the tired and homeless.
A year later, I met Mikey, Harley's house-mate.  Mikey...all stunts and insanity and love for his family.  Mikey ...the one who sacrificed dreams and aspirations to build a home for his son...  Always a source of playful encouragement...
Another year later, I met Harley's future wife, Amanda...and in her I found sunshine and adoration.  A steadiness, a calm assurance.  A sister.  Our friendship has grown deeper through the exchange of handwritten letters.  It's like Christmas morning every time I open my mailbox.
The four of us used to spend Sunday afternoons scattered in the corners of my tiny apartment.  Always together. Eating, breathing, absorbing community...loving each other.
In the last three years we have journeyed across the state, across the planet, fought wars, joined hands in marriage, felt the tension of divorce...and stayed together.
I have tried without fail to reproduce something resembling the loving kindness I share with these three special people, but I have yet to succeed.
Harley said that our bond is so unique, it would be difficult to replicate.  He speaks the truth...I keep attempting to build a life apart from Harley, Amanda, and Mikey...and it is not without strain.  With each new adventure I begin, I contemplate what they might think of it...  Being apart from them is frequent torture...and when we are united, you can almost sense a renewed strength in the air.
So now I toy with whether or not I should continue to live independent of them.  Am I destined to remain in Fort Worth?  What will become of the four of us?  I am quite certain that we will always be friends...we will always share in each other's lives...in the joy and in the sorrow...we will always be connected.